Page 4 of Villainous Fate

Nine Years Ago

Afterthatfirstday,the new girl, Grace from a pack down in Alabama, started appearing in all of my classes. News spread quickly that her dad was displaced as Second in his old pack when his former Alpha was challenged for his seat and lost. The new Alpha chose a new Second and removed those loyal to the previous leader from all status positions.

This reorganization happened often in more rural packs where Alphas changed frequently due to old customs and rules. Our pack last had a leadership change when my father took over before I was born, though his ascension had more to do with the blackmail he had on the previous Alpha than his claim to the title.

Much to my surprise, Grace did survive the first day. Not only that, but she survived the first week and into the first month without so much as an issue and, as far as I could tell, without making a single friend. She spoke only when called upon in class, and kept to herself at lunch and in the open study hall when most of us hung out more than studying.

I watched her, trying to get a read on her, hoping to figure out her game. Everyone had a game they were playing; it was just a matter of figuring out hers. She was polite, kind when approached, but never friendly. She asked nothing from anyone and spent a good portion of her free time with her nose in a book.

She seemed almostnormal.

It bugged me that I couldn’t figure her out, couldn’t see what angle she was playing. In my world, everyone was trying to put themselves closer to power. There was no way she was any different.

After three weeks, I’d had enough of waiting her out. At lunch, I sat down at the otherwise empty table where she ate her sandwich, intent on getting answers.

“What’s your plan?” I asked, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. It was the question I had spent every day twirling around in my mind. I came up with scenario after scenario about what she was trying to accomplish.

“I’m sorry, I don’t follow,” she responded, not looking up from her book.

“What are you trying to do here? What's your plan?” I repeated.

“The only thing I’m trying to do here is eat my lunch and finish the chapter of my Nancy Drew book. The real question you should ask yourself is whyyoucare what I’m doing.”

Her matter-of-fact tone was neither rude nor inviting, making me even more mad because she was right.

“I don’t care, but it makes no sense. You’re starting over and not even trying to be part of the pack. Don’t you want friends?” I asked, curiosity bleeding into my tone.

“And what makes you, Deacon Marlo, think I haven’t got any friends?” At this statement, she looked up, amusement dancing in her eyes.

“Well, because you’re always alone.”

“I’m never alone. As long as I have a book, I’m always with friends,” she stated like it was the most normal thing in the world, and it took everything in me not to burst out laughing in her face.

OK, so she doesn’t have a plan. She’s just nuts.

“Imaginary friends do not count,” I whispered, trying to get her to see that she sounded a little crazy.

“If you must know, I don’t need to make friends here. I have friends in Alabama, and I'm out of here as soon as I get enough money. So no, I have no intention of making friends here because I will be leaving soon.”

The way she stuck out her jaw in defiance lit a fire in me, and I knew she and I were the same. Just waiting to get away from the lives our parents forced upon us. For the first time, I saw her, not as some country bumpkin, but as a kid living her life without any control over what happened to her.

“Now, how in the world is a nine-year-old girl going to make it all the way back to Texas?” I asked, curious again.

“I’m almost ten, and I’ve been saving my allowance since we arrived. If I counted right, I should be able to afford a bus ticket by the end of the school year.”

“Won’t your parents notice you’re missing?”

“Maybe after a while. But they have my little brother to worry about, and it’s not like Dad can go back.” Sadness crept into her voice as she finished, and I hated how it made me feel.

“Well, maybe, while you're here, you should at least pretend you have friends. Otherwise, they may catch onto your plan before you have the chance to leave.”

“You offering to be my friend, Deacon?”

“For pretend, sure. I love a good long game, and who knows, maybe I’ll tag along. It's not like they need me here. They’re prepping my brother, Luca, to take over. I’m just in the way.” I said with a shrug.

Understanding filled her expression mixed with a little sadness before she nodded, her decision made. Mischief flows from her as her mind spins showing her weighing the proposition. Then she smiles, lighting her whole face and making her eyes crinkle at the sides.

“Then I guess I’ll see you around, buddy.”

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